eleven
. . .
piper
Beau dideverything in his power last night to go over the marketing plans. It’s not that I didn’t want to, but I was exhausted after cleaning up at Starlit Fields.
Pierce left a message on my phone this morning. The winery is closed another day, but we don’t need to come in. He has contractors looking at the roof of one of the warehouses. I didn’t even know there was damage.
Beau is in the living room when I walk in. “Good morning.” My hands are lifted putting my hair into a ponytail.
“Good mo—” The greeting cuts off and his mouth drops open as soon as he sees me.
I glance down to see what has him so flustered and realize I’m wearing what I normally do when I’m alone at home. A long t-shirt with nothing underneath. Not even registering that it’s also slightly shorter because my arms are up.
I immediately put my hands down, letting my hair fall around my face. What I’m wearing didn’t even register when I got up. I should have at least thrown on some leggings.
“I’ll, uh, be right back.” I rush back to the guest room and slam the door behind me. Spending even more time with him while marketing the winery is going to be torture. The way his eyes trailed along my body while he sat there with his mouth wide open is something I don’t know that I’ll ever get out of my head.
I should have stayed with one of my brothers. Or, hell, even Paula. Then I wouldn’t be mortified to walk back out there and act like he wasn’t looking at me like I was a dessert.
This will not end well for either of us. I can already tell. The more he looks at me like I’m his, the less I’ll be able to resist taking things a step further.
“Piper? Are you okay in there?” There’s a soft knock on the door.
Shit. I lean my head against the door as silently as possible. I don’t want him to know how small the distance is between us. If I don’t answer him, he’ll barge in. It’s the one thing I can count on from him. Beau is the only person who has been able to read me this well.
I quietly slide away from the door and move closer to the disaster on top of the bed. My clothes are scattered everywhere. There’s another knock. My best friend is getting impatient, but I had to put some physical space between us.
“I’m fine, Beau.” My voice is panicked even though I try my hardest to keep it level and disinterested.
Approximately two minutes. That’s how long I have until he’ll walk through the door. I should have locked it when I came in. This is why I live alone. I could never remember to lock anything after myself. Hell, I don’t even lock my front door half the time.
My clothes fly off the bed as I shuffle through them trying to find a pair of leggings. Shorts. Anything to put under this shirt and stop Beau from looking like he wants to eat me up. Not thatI’d mind. Stop thinking like that Piper. You are friends. Only. Friends.
My fingers grip around an item that feels like my workout clothes, and I pull it out just as I hear the doorknob turn. They make a popping noise as I shake them out and slide my legs through. I’m pulling them up just as the door opens.
Thank God, I got them up before he came all the way in. But I’m not completely steady and I teeter backward while adjusting my waistband.
Before I know it, an arm is wrapped around my back and pulling me forward. Ugh. This is going to be one of those days full of embarrassment, I can already feel it. Since I’ve known him, I’ve never responded to him in this way. Well, maybe those first couple of days on the bus when we were getting to know each other, but definitely not since then. The only difference between then and now…the freaking kiss.
“I thought you said you were good.” He laughs before letting me go. His fingers sliding across the sliver of skin above my waist. My body shivers in delight. Resisting him is going to be harder than I thought. Even though I know that touch was completely innocent.
“I am.” I huff and pull my shirt down. “You opened the door and scared me.”
“You know well enough if you don’t answer I’m coming in.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I wave him away. “You should have grown out of that by now. Besides, my brothers aren’t in the room torturing me.”
“I mean, they could have been. They would never let you answer when we were kids. The only way I could come to your rescue was if I came in unannounced.” He shrugs and walks out of the room. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
“Nothing. I need to clean out my fridge and see when the power comes back. My brother said we’re closed again.Something about there being damage on the shops and contractors coming out to look at it.”
“Hopefully, they can get the repairs done quickly.” I can barely hear him as he’s making his way to the living room.
“What did you say?” My steps are quick as I follow after him.
Guilt washes over his face. “I hope the repairs are done quickly.”
